BHP boss urges Labor to push ahead with environmental regulation overhaul

Global mining giants led by BHP are urging the Albanese government to push ahead with an overhaul of environmental laws after the prime minister shut down Senate negotiations last week over fears of a political backlash from West Australian resources players. WA premier lobbied Albanese to kill Greens environment deal Photo shows Tanya Plibersek holds a python at Parliament House After an intense day of last-minute negotiations and lobbying by environmental and mining groups in which a deal was said to have "come close", the government has now shelved the talks. Ms Slattery's remarks — which include a "blunt assessment" that the country's ability to access skills and talent is under threat and that national innovation lags global rivals — come just over a week after Mr Albanese killed negotiations with the Greens on Senate passage of Labor's so-called "nature-positive" reforms. Mining giants support regulatory overhaul, but not EPA BHP's call echoes a push by rival global mining giant Rio Tinto, which in October backed the Albanese government in "prioritising and progressing" reform of the 25-year-old Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act. Permitting reform on the international agenda "We must champion a more competitive Australia through our policy settings in the way we grant permits, regulate mining, and think about risk," Ms Slattery said on Thursday.